The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-27
A SIGHT WORTH SEEING.
TOUR THROUGH THE MAMMOTH
BLUFF CITY STOVE WORKS..
The Great Enterprise of Memphis
Company-How 1t Makes Stoves, Tin
and Japan Ware - Interesting Chat
with the Manager


There is great deal of talk about man
ufactories in Memphis, but, at the same
time, it might be safely said that not one
fourth OF the people in the city know to
what extent manufactures have grown,
and how last they are increasing their ca
pacity 20 meet the rapid demands for their
wares 1t is only limited few who are
acquainted with the interesting processes
of how the articles they daily use are
Shaped, ornamented and made into sery-
ice, aside from mere written description.
TO go into the shops, and SEQ the real
workers, us they first touch the raw mate
rial, fresh from the bowels OF the earth;
watch it put through the cruciblc, and,
with skillful hands, rolled, beaten and
twisted into beautiful shape, is thing that
many who have the leisure might see for
themselves, and learn n practical lesson.
See and know with what faithful and care
ful work the millions OF toilers earn their
daily bread. There are many factories in
the city where one could spend a hall or
whole day with instructive observation.
One of the largest factories in the south,
"
is the Bluff City stove works OF $. Wctter
& Co. They also have attached an equal
ly large tin and japan ware factory.
Situated between Georgia and Carolina
streets, occupying central position, mid
way the Mississippi q Tennessee, the
Kansas City, Louisville, New Orleans d
Texas and the Bald Knob railroad depots,
stands two well-built and spacious struct-
ures of brick, From the constant hum Of
the busy machinery and changing forge
blows, one instinctively knows that the
hands within those walls are not idle.
Passing by there yesterday morning an
APPEAL reporter took il upon himself 10
walk into the Office of the stove factory
and ask the superintendent 10 show him
around, in order that he might see how a
stove is made. The superintendent OF the
shops was not in at the time,
but Mr.. II. G. Thompson, the
general manager for III. Wetter Il CO., was.
The request was made 10 him and he
cautiously responded, and, as the rounds
were made, explained everything Of inter
est. Going info the mOlding room he
remarked. "rhis is where the raw pig-iron
is melted, preparatory TO being poured into
these hundreds OF molds, in which the
different pieces that 20 TO makeup a stove
are formed. This floor is l2j&2a0 feet in
dimensions. The main building which we
have just passed through, and in which
you saw the employees putting the stoves
together is l5Xl25 feet, but 1t is entirely
too small Tor the purpose. This large
iron.looking boiler is what We term
the cupola, where the raw iron
is melted, and runs through those
spiggot like openings into vessels
prepared for the purpose, and is quickly
poured into the molds. We will make
run this afternoon at 3 o'clock, and
would like you 10 see II and observe how
fast the men handle the molten ore"
How many men doyou employat stove
making"
eve only have sixty At work now, hut
we need as many more, and are getting
them as fast rs we can. In the latter part
OF the summer several Of our molders
were taken suddenly sick, and n good
many got frightened and left. This de
layed Us in number OF orders which We
had received for the lall trade, and We are
now doing all we can 10 catch up with it."
GLOW many stoves can you turn out
day with your present iorce2
sc this point Superintendent John
White came up, and Manager Thompson
put the question 20 him. said he: 1--WE
arc averaging about l25 day, but We
have every arrangement for doubling that
number ii we had the workmcn.'
GLOW many stoves did you make last
year,
"Wcll. Il would take some time 20 tell
that" said Manager Thompson, without
the books. We sell our goods all the way
from Kansas, Texas and Missouri down 10
the gull. / recall from hearing one
OF the book.kccpcrs state few days ago
that this year We have shipped
10 the State OF Texas iorty-two carloads,
making !. s2l stoves; twelve cans east OF
the Mississippi river, which would make
1886, aud thirty-one cans 10 Arkansas and
Missouri. amounting 10 I, 1853 As Tor the
number Of stoves sold In this state. Mis-
sissippi and adjoining States | could not
say without reference 10 the shipping
books
"Cin YOU make stoves here and sell
them cheaper than they can in the eastern
iacioriCs?'
eyes, sir; We can and do. Our iron
comes from Birmingham. II Is q short
haul, and our iron laid down in the yard
does not cost M any more than To the
eastern manufacturer. We have much
cheaper facilities for reaching our custom
they arr 10 eastern factories. The diiicr-
encc in frcights gives Va at least 10 per
cent advantage. We have seven wide
awake men on the roads, and II stoves are
wanted In their territory they are ycry4i.
able 20 sell them"
by this time all Of the principal features
Of the large establishment had been seen,
and Tim ArFEAL man was ncartho door at
which lac entered, about 30 take
leave OF the genial manager, when he said:
ooh. don't 20 yet, you haven't seen half Of
our big enterprise. Come, 90 across the
way 10 this other large building, and you
will sec ~ iine a tin and japan ware
factory ~ there is anywhere IN
the couutry.n Going across the space
a several hundred feet the cellar,
or enginc.room OF the large four story fac
tory was entered. On this same floor u the
blacksmith and rCpair shop, every branch
of which h looked after by competent men.
Ascending the stairway 10 the main floor,
which Ia l1OxGO feet, WIS 30 be seen siiynp-
ing and die machines. There are eighteen
OF them. .all OF the newest and best makes.
on the second floor was an interesting
sight. There were quite n number Of small
boys bottoming aud trcpaning buckets,
ect. A little fellow, not moro p.an
twelve years old, Was running q machine
/ which turned the edges Of the fiat
tin. lie tossed them over into n large
box, which stood between he and another
liitle fellow Of near the same size, who,
putting Il on the round tin, placed IL in
Inc machine, and.tho bucket was made,
save the handle. On Il went 10 the next
box, and another boy fitted the already
prepared wirc handle on Il by means Of a
machine for the purpose. One boy said he,